Rainy Days on Mondays Always Make Me Smile

134.  Language explosions in little sixteen month old girls.
133.  A mother-in-law who has stressed from the beginning the importance of couple time.
132.  The coverage You provide for my babies while we're apart during the day.
131.  Seeing my kids' carefree giggles as they play in the rain.
130.  How seeing someone else's creative juices flowing gets my own going as well.
129.  Leftover Japanese food, straight out of the fridge.
128.  Coffee pot timers.
127.  The people we meet in this life who immediately humble us - when we think our lives are tough, we hear their stories and see them still glorifying God.  It's awesome.
126.  A husband who cooks...not just regularly, but awesomely.
125.  The ability to block repeat, unwanted, wrong number phone calls at 2am thanks to our awesome phone service.
124.  An empty sink at bedtime.
123.  Releasing control and allowing my kids to be helpers.
122.  Seeing discipline work.
121.  Tiny pink toenails.
120.  A spontaneous blessing from two little kidlets who are so ready to eat dinner and a third who dances while they sing it.
119.  Free sweet tea refills.
118.  The opportunity to make new friends and learn more about other people through simple conversation.
117.  Quality time with friends on the weekend.
116.  The collision center who repaired our rear-ended minivan going above and beyond the call of duty and detailing the interior of our van - even de-gunking our disgusting backseat cupholders.
115.  A tremendous rainfall to cleanse my soul and feed my thirsting grass.

Marvelous Monday!

114.  Handprint artwork that I can look back on over the years and see how tiny those little hands once were.

113.  The pure joy on my kids faces when they get unrestricted play time with the water hose.

112.  How quickly the time Sam was away on business passed with houseguests around to keep me distracted.

111.  The opportunity to visit with them for the first time in our home of four years.

110.  A safe return trip to Baltimore for my sister and nephew.

109.  An effortless trip to and from the Atlanta airport on a Friday evening at rush hour.  

108.  The reality that I can always be stronger.

107.  Taking note of the fact that I am stronger than I realize.

106.  Boot camp lead by an awesome instructor - whose goal is to restore God's temple!

105.  Seeing a child (whether my own or someone else's) put someone else before themselves.

104.  That Sam and I were able to rise to the occasion when it came time to be "young parents".

103.  The amazing Sunday School teachers and Kidzone facilitators that have my seven year old on fire for God.

102.  The train table at Barnes & Noble.

101.  BOGO free coupons.

100.  Dr. Seuss books, but especially I Had Trouble in Getting to Solla Sollew.

99.  The people who make lasting impressions on us - for better or for worse.

98.  Watching my almost-four year old feed yogurt to her baby sister complete with words of encouragement - "Come on, Sarah! Open wide!  You can do it!"

97.  For the model my father set for me with his relentless work ethic.
96.  For the continued answers to prayer that have kept our tiny engineering firm open for at least a year longer than any of us anticipated.
95.  A teary conversation (on my part) followed by words of affirmation by my husband that lifted a huge burden and brought me peace.

only one day late this week...

94.  The exhilarated feeling I get from working out, however begrudging I was before I started.
93.  The tenacity of sixteen month olds.
92.  Tiny baby teeth.
91.  Little, spontaneous giggles.
90.  Smiles from strangers.
89.  Common sense.
88.  Free "Happy Birthday" medium beverages from Dunkin' Donuts.
87.  The memory of playing field hockey and the special place it still holds in my heart.
86.  A mom who also demonstrated that it's okay to laugh often and loudly.
85.  A mom who demonstrated that it's okay to let the tears fall.
84.  Little surprises...like an unloaded dishwasher when I get home from work.
83.  A cul de sac full of playmates for my kids.
82.  A seven year old who loves school so much that, when he thought I'd left him at home one morning, he vowed to "walk, maybe even run" to school by himself.
81.  The fact that my three year old is no longer scared of thunderstorms.
80.  A husband who encourages me to stand up for myself.
79.  The safe trip she and my nephew had down to GA yesterday.
78.  The opportunity to show my sister around my "hometown".
77.  A Sunday School class full of four year olds who are quickly winning me over.
76.  The Young Married Ministry at Central Baptist Church.
75.  A boss who loves Jesus.
74.  A job that has remained through troublesome financial times for my company.

Postponed, but Still Thankful

73.  The place this world holds for C-students.

72.  The peace that comes with following God's will.

71.  Daycare providers who love my children as their own.

70.  The energizing power of coffee.

69.  The healing power of sleep.

68.  The maturity and responsibility of my now seven-year-old boy who steps up to help out when Mom is under the weather.
67.  The Oasis in Roanoke Rapids with a 24-hour Dunkin' Donuts.
66.  By the Docks Single Crabcake platter
65.  Grandma's advice - regarding finances, parenting, you name it.
64.  The Greatest Generation.
63.  The willingness of young men and women to serve our country.
62.  Watching an elderly man in his wheelchair cross his front lawn to his flagpole so he could honor our great country by raising the American flag.
61.  Handwritten treasures left to us by those who are no longer with us.
60.  Those little sun rays peeking through the clouds.
59.  The amazing saving power of coupons.
58.  Witnessing five children snoozing all at the hands of Super Dad.
57.  Watching my husband be an amazing father.
56.  The opportunity to meet up with wonderful friends.
55.  Safe trips back from Maryland on the eve of a school day.
54.  Safe trips to Maryland on the eve of a major holiday.